Support for near field communications technology is one of the new features that's been rumored to be coming to Apple's new iPhone, with the most recent speculation emerging thanks to the appearance of a front panel with a square chip that some thought may be an NFC part. Unfortunately for iOS fans interested in tapping and paying for a future purchase with an NFC-enabled iPhone, it doesn't look like NFC will be making its way into the next model. After analyzing the aforementioned front panel photo, a report from AnandTech explains that it's "highly unlikely" that NFC will be included in the new iPhone due to its metal backside and the small amount of space in the glass windows of the iPhone's panel. Jim Dalrymple, who has a pretty good track record when it comes to Apple rumors, responded to this explanation with a simple "Yep."
Earlier this year, we heard that Apple had looked into including NFC support in an iPhone, but that the company had concerns about the security of the tech, the effect that it could have on battery life and slow adoption of NFC by retailers. There's no word on which of those reasons, if any, may explain why Apple is said to be passing on NFC on its next iPhone. However, Apple will be including a new app called Passbook in iOS 6, which will allow users to store scannable cards and passes on their device. The new iPhone itself is reportedly set for a September 12 introduction, followed by a launch on September 21. So what do all of you potential buyers of the new iPhone make of this news? Are you disappointed that NFC support is unlikely to be included?
